RLRI in November: Immigration

The election is tomorrow, but the Real Life | Real Issues team is looking ahead to this month's topic: immigration and its impact on central PA. It's been a hot button issue across the country, especially in the border states like Arizona and California. But closer to home, Pennsylvania has seen its share of bruising battles with the issue. Earlier this decade, a commissioner vowed to make Berks County the Bunker Hill of bilingualism. More recently, Hazelton's crackdown on illegal immigrants and the beating death of an illegal immigrant in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, sparked racial tensions in the region. Our coverage of the issues starts with a Central PA Magazine interview I did with a Mexican man who crossed the border and now works at a midstate sports bar. His story will also be included in a look at how illegal immigrants find jobs at restaurants and pizza places on WITF 89.5 and 93.3 in Chambersburg. Since the issues of immigration is wide-ranging and complicated, Real Life | Real Issues won't focus entirely on those enter the country illegally. A second radio story will focus on the need for immigration reform, so midstate farms can continue to attract migrant workers to the fields. Radio Smart Talk and Smart Talk on WITF-TV plan to devote significant time to discussing immigration, as well. More details to come. Rounding things out, WITF's education blog will detail a visit to a York County school that offers a Spanish Immersion class. There will also be plenty of videos and photographs to check out. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.